Smith Eyeing Individual & Collective Improvement
- Libby Smith says LCFC Women have returned from the Christmas break in high spirits
- The Foxes made the move to Belvoir Drive ahead of the resumption of their FA Women’s Championship campaign
- City take on Sheffield United at Farley Way Stadium on Sunday (2pm GMT kick-off)
- LCFC Women currently sit top of the league after 11 matches
The Foxes made their transition to the training facility prior to Sunday’s FA Women’s Championship fixture versus Sheffield United at Farley Way Stadium.
Leicester-based Smith, 19, has been a key member of City’s squad this term, and has shown her adaptability by playing in a full-back role when called upon.
A dynamic youngster, Smith believes her team-mates will thrive at Belvoir Drive, where their day-to-day match preparations will take shape.
“It’s been really good,” Smith told LCFC TV. “The atmosphere is really good, and the girls are buzzing to be back on the pitch, especially here at Belvoir Drive.
“It’s unreal. The facilities that we’ve got, as individuals and as a collective, I think we can really improve and build on our game, getting ready for the weekend against Sheffield United.
“Being here, having pitches to replicate the pitch on a Sunday, having ice baths and being able to use the gym, it’ll help us build ourselves up.
“For me, being a Leicester girl, it’s unreal. I’d seen it before and obviously it’s something you want to work towards. It’s great to be here.
“You can see that it’s a modern facility, and having seen pictures of the men’s team here, and then for us to be here, it’s great for the women’s game and for the Club as a whole.”
Smith is part of an in-form LCFC Women side that leads the way in the Women’s Championship thanks to eight victories from 11 games.
“It’s been really good,” she said of her side’s results in 2020/21. “We’ve built up a lot of momentum going into Christmas. We’ve dropped a couple of points, but I think we’ve done really well to then come back from those games.
“Each week is a different challenge, to be honest. This week will be different, as will the week after. It doesn’t matter where they are in the league, we face different challenges that we’ll build a game plan upon.
“A new team is going to take time to gel. You’ve got to expect that. Now, we’re in the second half of the season and I think all of that is behind us now.
“We’ve gelled well, all the girls know each other – even Sophie Harris (new LCFC Women signing). We’ve made her feel part of the team already.”
The Foxes, on Sunday, come up against a Sheffield United side that they drew 2-2 with earlier in the season, and Smith says the target this weekend will be to collect three points to maintain their purple patch.
“It’ll be a tough test,” Smith said. “Like I say, each week is a different opponent and different challenge for us.
“Obviously, only getting a point away from home last time [against Sheffield United], we’ll be looking to get the three points this time and carry on from our run building up to Christmas.”